PSLE
Barbara spent ¹₉ of her money on a skirt and 5 vests. The skirt cost 3 times as much as each vest. Barbara spent ³₈ of her remaining money on a ring. She spent $475 more on the ring than on the 5 vests.
(a) What fraction of Barbara's money was spent on each vest?
(b) How much money did Barbara have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 vest = 1 u

Cost of 5 vests
= 5 x 1 u
= 5 u

Cost of 1 skirt = 3 u

Cost of 1 skirt and 5 vests
= 3 u + 5 u
= 8 u

Fraction of Barbara's money spent on each vest
= ¹₈ x ¹₉
= ¹₇₂

(b)
¹₉ of her money = 8 u
⁸₉ of her money = 8 x 8 u = 64 u

Barbara's remaining money = 64 u

Cost of the ring
= ³₈ x 64 u
= 24 u

Amount that Barbara spent more on the ring than on the 5 vests
= 24 u - 5 u
= 19 u

19 u = 475

1 u = 475 ÷ 19 = 25

⁹₉ of her money = 9 x 8 u = 72 u

Amount that Barbara had at first
= 72 u
= 72 x 25
= $1800

Answer(s): (a) ¹₇₂ ; (b) $1800